Bali Pure sweeps Air Force for 2nd straight win | ABS-CBN

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Bali Pure sweeps Air Force for 2nd straight win

Bali Pure sweeps Air Force for 2nd straight win

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

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Bali Pure scores second straight win of the conference. Arvin Lim, ABS-CBN Sports

MANILA, Philippines – The Bali Pure Water Defenders marched to their second consecutive win in the V-League Season 13 Reinforced Conference after beating Air Force in straight sets on Monday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

American imports Katherine Morrell and Kaylee Manns took over down the stretch for Bali Pure as they registered a 25-22, 25-19, 25-21 win that hiked their record to 2-1.

It was Bali Pure's second straight win of the conference, building on their impressive sweep of Customs last Wednesday. Air Force, for its part, dropped to 1-4, just ahead of winless Coast Guard (0-4) in the league standings.

"We were more consistent in this game than the last few games that we've played, and I think that's a good sign," said Bali Pure's Charo Soriano after their win.

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Morrell scored 19 points on 17 attacks and one ace, while Dzi Gervacio added 10 points for the Water Defenders, who also got 42 excellent sets on top of six points from Manns.

Bali Pure was well in control of the opening frame, leading by as much as nine points, 18-9, off an attack error by Air Force's Jennifer Manzano. But the Lady Jet Spikers clawed their way back, with Angel Antipuesto providing the scoring punch, to within two points several times down the stretch.

They last threatened at 22-24, as a quick hit by Antipuesto and a mishit by Morrell allowed Air Force to save two set points. But Air Force was called for a net violation in the final rally that awarded Bali Pure with the win in the opener.

The Water Defenders rode the momentum of their first set win to claim a straightforward victory in the second set, but a recharged Air Force side looked to steal the third as they raced out to a 5-0 advantage, thanks in part to errors from Bali Pure.

Kills by Morrell and back-to-back blocks by Mae Tajima lifted the spirits of the Bali Pure side, with Tajima's rejection of Jocemer Tapic knotting the set at 6-all. It was back-and-forth from there, but a mini 3-0 run midway through gave the Water Defenders a 16-13 cushion that they would not relinquish.

Consecutive 1-2 plays from Manns put Bali Pure at match point, 24-19, before an error by Tajima and a down-the-line kill by Iani Yongco put Air Force within three, 21-24. Morrell was unstoppable, however, punching in a hit from the middle that dropped in an unguarded spot in Air Force's backcourt.

"Air Force has always been a solid team, so we knew that even if we've won one set or two sets, the game is not over yet," said Soriano. "So we hung in there."

Tapic led Air Force with 10 points, but no other player scored in double-digits. Cases had nine markers for the Lady Jet Spikers, and Dell Palomata added 6.

Air Force actually had more attack points, 40-39, but they also committed 28 unforced errors – many of which were service errors that zapped their momentum just as they were trying to make a run.

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.

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